Thought Newcastle would be a popular destination for you lot, decent shout anyway. I've never done the rounds in Leeds but always had a good time whenever I've gone drinking there. Can't be of any actual help but there you go.

Thought Newcastle would be a popular destination for you lot, decent shout anyway. I've never done the rounds in Leeds but always had a good time whenever I've gone drinking there. Can't be of any actual help but there you go.

I vetoed Newcastle on account of it being utterly balls.

And yes, you can be of help, even if it's only areas or names of bars. Just been googling which of course doesn't really tell you much.

The Nation of Shopkeepers and Carpe Diem are my favourites, but anything around the Cookridge Street/Millenium Square area is solid (there's also a lot of best avoided chain places too, like Walkabout and Vodka Revs, but rough with the smooth and all that). The 02 arena is around there too, but that's only recommended if there's a specific band you want to go see.

That's the best area to head out hit the booze without much plan, anyway. Whatever you do don't be tempted by an Otley Run. The novelty of walking sizeable distances between pubs that shut at 12 with hundreds of freshers in "costume" wears off very quickly. I wouldn't bother with Headingley at all unless you plan on daytime drinking.

In my admittedly limited experience, the best curry is at the Shabab, near the station; the best English restaraunt that won't break the bank is Browns, near the aforementioned Nation; the best sports bar is Shooter's, on the Headrow (main street); and the best real ale pub is a tiny place near the Victoria shopping centre called the Angel.

Can't help you with strip clubs.

I'm a house party man rather than a club man, so I'm not the one to ask. All I really know of clubbing is some atrocious ones from Fresher's week. You can't all come to my house. Probably.

And yes, you can be of help, even if it's only areas or names of bars. Just been googling which of course doesn't really tell you much.

Well you really should have believed me that I'm not much use here - decent bar to have your first beer in lies directly across from the station. In fact every pub I've been to in the vicinity of the station and that was good but the problem I'm having is every time I've been to Leeds it's either been for sports, music or socialising, all of which tend to involve me getting ****ed.

What sort of stag night is it, and will rack my memory for more specifics. I know that might sound a stupid question, but in my experience some lads are just going for a night out that's a bit bigger than usual, and some are looking to 'do' something within said city (strip club, casino etc)

Well you really should have believed me - decent bar to have your first beer in lies directly across from the station. In fact every pub I've been to in the vicinity of the station and that was good.

What sort of stag night is it, and will rack my memory for more specifics. I know that might sound a stupid question, but in my experience some lads are just going for a night out that's a bit bigger than usual, and some are looking to 'do' something within said city (strip club, casino etc)

I want to do more than just go to Leeds and get pissed for 2 days. Get to Leeds 5 o'clock on the Friday, leave 1pm on the Sunday. Probably paintballing or go-karting on the Saturday, quite fancy a pool tournament or something on the Friday, I'm sure we'll visit the strippers at some point as well. Basically it's drinking with activities. Might be a **** and book some 5 a sides for the Sunday morning.

Incidentally, one thing to bear in mind is that in March, at least half the people you see on a night out are students and in some places almost all of them will be. If you're looking to avoid them, I'm not sure I'll be of much use.

How easy is Leeds to get around btw?

Piece of cake as far as I see. Most of the city centre is laid out in grid form, there are black and white cabs everywhere and in this age of google I've never had a problem.

There is a Goals 5-a-side Football Centre near where I live on the Kirkstall Road. I'm really not one for chasing that form of leather but the one time I did join in with my flatmate's do last year, they came across really well. The fact that we were both **** and late didn't pass comment, and when the opposition didn't turn up reducing our game to four-on-four between ourselves, they let us use the turf for free.